MINSK, 6 May (BelTA) - High product quality is the decisive factor in enhancing the country's competitiveness in foreign markets, Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov said when speaking at the ceremony to honor the Government Quality Excellence Award winners, BelTA has learned.
“The award winners value quality. Today this factor is crucial for enhancing the competitiveness of the country in general and companies in particular. It is important to use all modern quality management tools and replicate the experience of advanced companies around the country. Without quality there is no future,” the Prime Minister noted.
Andrei Kobyakov noted that the commission for the Belarusian Government Quality Excellence Award awarded the 2015 winner title on six companies. Another 18 organizations have become repeated winners; five have been awarded diplomas and three got special awards. For the past 17 years 206 companies have become winners, some repeated winners. “The winning companies have one thing in common: they make efficient use of the quality management systems and advanced technologies. This has helped them to become a success on the market,” he said.
The first-time winners are the Minsk Institute for Command Engineers of the Emergencies Ministry, Belarusian Steel Works - Management Company of the Belarusian Metallurgical Holding Company (Zhlobin), Minsk Dairy Plant No.1, Pruzhany Dairy, Torgmash (Baranovichi) and Granit (Mikashevichi). Repeated winners are Savushkin Product Dairy, Vitebsk Meat-Packing Plant, Molochnyi Mir Dairy, Beltelecom, and Belarusian Cement Plant.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, the Prime Minister recalled that Decree No. 78 adopted in February 2016 provides for the systematic measures aimed at improving the economy, including by reducing production costs. At the same time cost reduction should not affect quality. The companies should make every effort to implement the provisions of this document. In the current economic environment reducing costs and maintaining quality are becoming a matter of survival for most companies,” Andrei Kobyakov said.
Andrei Kobyakov also stressed that the most important task for the balanced economic development is the enhancement of the country's export potential. It can be achieved through increasing the share of Belarusian goods and services on the global market, securing surplus in foreign trade, diversifying the exports. “Many winners meet these criteria and export more than 80% of their output. Among them is Belarusian Steel Works, Ruzhany Dairy and many others,” the Prime Minister said.
According to Andrei Kobyakov, for Belarus' full-fledged participation in international trade, first of all in the EU market, more than 6,600 models and modifications of Belarusian commodities have undergone conformity verification checks and got the right to enter the European market. Among them are products of eight winners of the contest. “In order to enter the market of the Eurasian Economic Union, Belarusian products need to comply with the common legislation. The legislation includes 34 technical regulations of the Customs Union,” he said.
Among other important tasks for companies voiced by the Prime Minister is the modernization and technical re-equipment of manufacturing facilities, the reduction of energy intensity and energy saving.
The Government Quality Excellence Award has been held since 1999. The main criteria are significant results in improving the quality and competitiveness of products, works or services, expanding markets, use of advanced methods of management and latest technologies, customer satisfaction.
